tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post175664743630634284..comments2024-03-29T01:22:33.864-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Jul. 23, 2008 - Henry Quillen (CHILD IN A 1980s CUSTODY CASE / ONETIME "CONCENTRATION" HOST JACK)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89262020791879449862008-08-27T09:25:00.000-04:002008-08-27T09:25:00.000-04:00Looks like I'm the only one who had --NIC- for Str...Looks like I'm the only one who had --NIC- for Strauss's birthplace and decided he was born in VENICE.<BR/><BR/>I suppose that GOURMANDS love fine fare as much as they love any fare. I kept trying to stretch GOURMETS into nine letters.<BR/><BR/>Wonderful theme, for which I'll forgive the sometimes inelegant (but gettable) filler. And nice long entries down the middle!Tom Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510874213923301296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1299645624283744742008-08-27T09:21:00.001-04:002008-08-27T09:21:00.001-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13068017891181076744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52836821894725345892008-08-27T09:21:00.000-04:002008-08-27T09:21:00.000-04:00Am I the only other one who got tripped up by DAMA...Am I the only other one who got tripped up by DAMA? I was a Spanish minor in college and yet I don't recall ever seeing this word, in crosswords or otherwise. I had DONA but also knew MEARA had to be right, so I was stumped there for a bit. Didn't know NARZ, even though I was a huge Concentration fan; perhaps I'm too young to remember him. PHON I know from playing Boggle obsessively. ZEENA I got only from crosses.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise I thought it was a great theme and loved the clue for THE UN.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13068017891181076744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66680280168526642262008-07-24T17:19:00.000-04:002008-07-24T17:19:00.000-04:00I had a similar experience seeing "Blazing Saddles...<I>I had a similar experience seeing "Blazing Saddles" when the Indians starting speaking Yiddish and I was the only one laughing at what they were saying.</I><BR/><BR/>It's certainly funny on its own, but a small part of the humor is the fact that there was a time when the Native American Indians were thought of in Jewish circles as the 10 lost tribes. Nu, what else would they speak? Swedish?<BR/><BR/>Indeed, there is/was a genre of completely untranslatable Yiddish jokes about Indians, where the Indians in the joke have some dialogue (and since the joke is being told in Yiddish, the dialogue is Yiddish). The punchline is then some comment that only makes sense if the speaker in the joke is an Orthodox Jew who has made a complete bollocks of his situation, and we now find out why he's all upset. ("Oy, gevalt, I took my milchig tomahawk!")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75435715851652914182008-07-23T23:31:00.000-04:002008-07-23T23:31:00.000-04:00As the first commenter to mention the swastika thi...As the first commenter to mention the swastika thing I just want to say that while my first reaction on seeing the puzzle went in that direction in no way was I offended by it nor did I at any moment seriously consider that a swastika was the intended representation.<BR/><BR/>I just thought of it, and then took me off on a mental tangent of what some swastika themes might be.<BR/><BR/>I'm not Jewish, paranoid or otherwise.Alex S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07543077687426776863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24193861009152866002008-07-23T23:21:00.000-04:002008-07-23T23:21:00.000-04:00The crossword puzzle should be one of the easiest ...The crossword puzzle should be one of the easiest things in the newspaper lay-out to replace: it probably takes the same amount of space every day. The plot thickens!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49150743677269201832008-07-23T23:05:00.000-04:002008-07-23T23:05:00.000-04:00@ steve l: as a fan of conspiracy theories in prin...@ steve l: as a fan of conspiracy theories in principle, I'm intrigued by your thought that "some Times editor saw a swastika shape in the puzzle grid and intentionally pulled the puzzle and substituted a previously-used one." <BR/><BR/>The Times puzzle, as I understand it, is handled like an ad, by ad production, and placed where there is space around the editorial content of the Arts section of the paper. A typeset document is provided and is dropped into the layout, with no modification by the production staff. <BR/><BR/>The mystery would therefore be: where did the saboteur obtain the corrupted typeset doc that we saw today, since it shouldn't be possible that such a doc was ever sent to ad production.<BR/><BR/>Where is Clouseau? Poirot? Marple? <BR/><BR/>Lateral thinking needed.Pythiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06121774603671545699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40167010735694705462008-07-23T22:23:00.000-04:002008-07-23T22:23:00.000-04:00green mantis, are you hidingunder a stalk or leaf?...green mantis, are you hiding<BR/>under a stalk or leaf?fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26481594962450179412008-07-23T22:09:00.000-04:002008-07-23T22:09:00.000-04:00I am glad that I got the right puzzle -- very enjo...I am glad that I got the right puzzle -- very enjoyable and a bit challenging for a Wednesday.Michael Chibnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-51497094841838743372008-07-23T22:02:00.000-04:002008-07-23T22:02:00.000-04:00@Mary in NE: I know, you are probably usually righ...@Mary in NE: I know, you are probably usually right. I'm not a great carnivore, but in this case they relied too much on avocado, even in the gazpacho... And the hearts of palm salad required magnifiers to find them back!machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82635709127291584902008-07-23T21:41:00.000-04:002008-07-23T21:41:00.000-04:00@ mac - You probably ate more protein during your ...@ mac - You probably ate more protein during your vegan meal than you realize. See "When Friends Ask: Where Do You Get Your Protein?" by Dr. John McDougall at http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/apr/dairy.htm. <BR/><BR/>I enjoyed the puzzle and had no errors, but many unknowns, that I got only through crosses, I double checked afterwards.<BR/><BR/>Mary in NEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-29331084157550057202008-07-23T21:34:00.000-04:002008-07-23T21:34:00.000-04:00Has anyone checked out Emily's drawings lately? Th...Has anyone checked out Emily's drawings lately? They are getting better and blacker every day.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65243168486595479532008-07-23T20:36:00.000-04:002008-07-23T20:36:00.000-04:00I never notices the Swastika thing until I read th...I never notices the Swastika thing until I read the assorted comments here. Yes, I am Jewish and I would have found it offensive if I thought it was there to make a statement. Perhaps if Skinhead and David Duke were surrepticiouly placed in the puzzle. Having said that, I always find it amusing when people look for subtle meanings and messages. I suppose that Zappa was in there because Henry Quillen was Zapped by an alien and the clue was included to get back to his home planet to indicate that he had safely landed here. If that wasn't the case he could have used ZUPPA which is soup in some language, (probably one that one of my customers, who I have difficulty understanding, speaks).alanrichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395356843823270129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69385462472986635712008-07-23T20:31:00.000-04:002008-07-23T20:31:00.000-04:00It took me about 6 minutes to nearly solve the puz...It took me about 6 minutes to nearly solve the puzzle and then 20 more to figure out that it wasn't E-CHAT AND ZERCONIA.<BR/>-SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-23463877072512837392008-07-23T20:13:00.000-04:002008-07-23T20:13:00.000-04:00meeskite [sic] redux -- this time by way of the or...meeskite [sic] redux -- this time by way of the original b'way production of <I>cabaret</I>. the song was introduced by the inimitable jack gilford:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/cabaret/meeskite.htm" REL="nofollow">meeskite</A><BR/><BR/>sweet!<BR/><BR/>;-)<BR/><BR/>janie (a great fan of today's puzzle)janiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15129173620859824730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88818098563084869722008-07-23T18:39:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:39:00.000-04:00@Andrea - I had a similar experience seeing "Blazi...@Andrea - I had a similar experience seeing "Blazing Saddles" when the Indians starting speaking Yiddish and I was the only one laughing at what they were saying.<BR/><BR/>3 and out. Until tomorrow, which may or may not be Thursday, or an old puzzle or in some bizarre pattern, or... can't we talk about food?Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15439448369235593032008-07-23T18:35:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:35:00.000-04:00@Fergus:Frank Sinatra recorded Misty in 1961. No e...@Fergus:<BR/><BR/>Frank Sinatra recorded Misty in 1961. No evidence that Johnny Mathis recorded MY WAY though.<BR/><BR/>Canadian factoid alert - The lyrics to MY WAY was written by Paul Anka.Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699404861773455504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4683071877057990302008-07-23T18:34:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:34:00.000-04:00I've been wondering if the fact that some Times ed...I've been wondering if the fact that some Times editor saw a swastika shape in the puzzle grid and intentionally pulled the puzzle and substituted a previously-used one. At first, I was thinking sabotage. But I can't imagine how that could have happened by accident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30440765326594869322008-07-23T18:33:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:33:00.000-04:00When I first read Rex and felt so in sync, I was C...When I first read Rex and felt so in sync, I was CONVINCED he must be me, somehow, ie Jewish, from Minneosta, late 40's, etc.<BR/>Imagine my surprise when I met him at the ACPT!<BR/> Rex insisting it looks nothing like a swastika is another indication of just HOW Jewish he is not! ;)<BR/><BR/>It reminds me of growing up as one of the few Jews in Minnesota and when they showed "Love and Death" and he called the woman a mieskeit, exactly three people out of 100 burst out laughing...<BR/><BR/>(And dead silence during the scene in "Annie Hall" where they are discussing yard sales and the grandmother is imagining Woody Allen with Payises (sp?)<BR/>but BIG laughs when he sneezed into the coke!)<BR/><BR/>A company I worked for in the 90's(Lexicon) named Zima (supposedly it means "Winter" in Russian) and they were SO proud of that awful name!<BR/>To their credit, they later named the Powerbook and the BlackBerry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50522473448853319632008-07-23T18:31:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:31:00.000-04:00Am I the only one who thought "whirligig" instead ...Am I the only one who thought "whirligig" instead of "swastika"? I was so impressed by the puzzle that I forgave EDW. Which, no, you really can't do. I had no problems with this puzzle at all, but I'm not going to gloat because you never know what will happen tomorrow....PuzzleGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835502266781516627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38505682705394858262008-07-23T18:28:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:28:00.000-04:00Thanks to Chef Bea, I got the proper puzzle, which...Thanks to Chef Bea, I got the proper puzzle, which she kindly emailed to those who needed their fix. Then, since I abandoned the domestic printer years ago, did the puzzle on graph paper, while looking up at the Clues and grid, making sure to blacken the appropriate spaces. Not an approach I would recommend, but interesting in its novelty.<BR/><BR/>A TO ZETA? No, that didn't work. My graph paper solution didn't bother with the circled spaces, and I don't think they mattered much or at all. Entirely superfluous addition to the puzzle; sot of like explaining a joke to point out the cleverness. <BR/><BR/>One gnarly error lay with Frank Sinatra (who is featured on the latest set of postage stamps I purchased), and I entered MISTY, followed by MYSTY, thinking that song, or variant, must have been in his repertoire. <BR/><BR/>The red-line Clue had me thinking more about discriminatory banking practices than copy-editing, so my graph paper started to appear to have some asymmetrical blackened spaces. <BR/><BR/>Glad to find EASES IN, and not WADES, with all due respect and apologies, to his vice-regency.fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-90340668375151640792008-07-23T18:23:00.000-04:002008-07-23T18:23:00.000-04:00When I got back to Connecticut, I found a differen...When I got back to Connecticut, I found a different puzzle in the paper, which I happily did without noticing the answers right below (never check those, I've got Rex!). I'm going to Seth's link later, I'll have double the fun today!<BR/><BR/>Yesterday I found (in son's appartment) an old (May 29 - June 4) "Onion", never saw one before. I ripped the puzzle page off and did it this morning. HaHA, no breakfast test in site! Very good puzzle, though, by Ben Tausig. <BR/>Two coincidences: this afternoon, for the first time ever, I ate at a Vegan restaurant, and Vegan was in the puzzle. Also, NYC Theater District / BWAY was in this puzzle!<BR/><BR/>I've got to go, need some protein for dinner.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38268203635737493282008-07-23T17:55:00.001-04:002008-07-23T17:55:00.001-04:00Who knows, maybe in the Southern Hemisphere, the s...Who knows, maybe in the Southern Hemisphere, the swastikas are reversed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13580703706176869852008-07-23T17:55:00.000-04:002008-07-23T17:55:00.000-04:00The center looks JUST like a swastika, an Indian (...The center looks JUST like a swastika, an Indian (Asian, that is) swastika, which is the same as the Nazi one, except mirror-image. For Indians, this has been a common good-luck symbol for ages. My brother once owned a house whose original owners were Indian, and there was a (backwards-to-Nazi) swastika carved in the cement.<BR/><BR/>The outer arms of the design simply echo the part that is the swastika proper, so I'd say yes, the entire design looks quite a bit like a swastika.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1485758837207690022008-07-23T17:27:00.000-04:002008-07-23T17:27:00.000-04:00OK, OK, the center looks more like a swastika than...OK, OK, the center looks more like a swastika than, say, a pumpkin looks like a swastika - I'll give you that.<BR/><BR/>Back to morning tea and toast. Off to Dunedin later today<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.com